Briquette machine



Oct. 5,` 1937. o. P. M. GOSS ET AL BRIQUETTE MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet l' INVENTOR OLA/Ee P. M. 6055 WORTH. C. 6055 ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1937.

umm

:num im, y f' Ilml HH N O. P. M. GOSS ET' AL BRIQUETTE MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1954 8 Sheets-Shet 2 INV NTOR OLA/1? )D M. 0.55 y

ORT C. 605

Oct 5, 1937. o. P. M. Goss ET AL v 2,094,885

BRIQUETTE MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1934 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 WORTH C. 60.55

, BY 9,5 y My//QMWMD ATTORNEY Odi. 5, 1937. 0, P, M, GQSS ET AL 2,094,885

BRIQUETTE MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1954 a sheets-sheet 4 v INVENTORS WORTH c 6055 oui/2 QM. 605s ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1937. o. P. M. Goss ET A1. 2,094,885

INVENTOR C2i/Vfl? RN. 6055 WORT/1' C. 6055 ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 11937. o. P. M. Goss ET Al. 2,094,885

BRIQUETTE MACHINE n Filed Sept. 19, 1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 f' ATTORN EY Oct. 5, 1937. o, P, M, Goss ET AL' 2,094,885

BRIQUETTE MACHINE 8 SheetsLSheet 7 Filed Sept. 19, 1934A INVENTOR 6055 ATTORNEY Oct. 5, 1937. I o. P. M. Goss ET Al. 2,094,885

BRIQUETTE MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1934 y 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 uw M* INVENTOR WORTH 6.60.55

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 5, 1937 PATENT vorrlfc: E

u 2,094,885 BRIQUETTE MACHINE Oliver P. Goss and Worth C. Seattle, Wash.

Goss,

Application September 19, 1934, Serial No. 744,648

7 Claims.

This invention relates tomachines for compressing loose, finely divided material, such as sawdust and the like, into briquettes to be usedY and fully automatic operation and whereby the finely divided material will be fed from a source of supply and accurately weighed charges thereof delivered successively into a press chamber and therein compressed into briquettes by the timed, reciprocal actions of a ram coactingV with 4the chamber. Also, to Vprovide means for effecting a pre-determined relative movement of the press chamber along a stripper plunger, after the formation of each briquette, thereby to eject the briquette therefrom.

It is also an object of this invention to provide Va machine for the above stated purpose including means whereby exceedingly high pressure for compressing' the material may be developed and the power input converted without Imaterial loss into the work of forming the briquettes.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a dual means for weighing and delivering the charges of material into a loader cylinder for advancement by a ram into the press chamber and to arrange them for alternate actuation, thereby to expedite the formation of briquettes by reason of the weighing of one charge ready for delivery While the vone preceding it is being compressed. Also, to provide means associated with the delivery of fuel charges, whereby they are partially compressed incident to their being advanced into the loader cylinder thereby materially lessening the length of stroke of the ram ythat otherwise would be required for eiecting a desired compression of the material. Y

Still another object of the invention resides in the novel mode of use of a toggle mechanism for actuating the ram andthrough which toggle mechanism a uniform input of power is increasingly applied as each charge of material in the formation of a briquette therefrom approaches its maximum state or" compression. Y Y

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of means for maintaining the supply of material in a heated condition until delivered into the press chamber and in the provision of means for circulating a vcooling medium about the press chamber to keep it Yfromoverheating. Other objects of the invention reside in the details fof construction of the press cylinder,

(Cl. 25--12) Y especially in the provision of means lfor venting to provide for exhaustion ,of air from the material under compression.

Infaccomplishing these and otherV objects of the invention, we have' provided the improved y5 details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the vaccompanying .drawings, wherein- Y Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a briquette forming machine embodying the present invention, the 10 pipe connections vbetween the various controlV valves and hydraulic cylinders being brokenA away for better illustrationl of parts otherwise covered thereby. Y

Fig. 2 is a sectional view axially of a briquette 15 formed yby thermachine. Y n

Fig. 3 is a top view of the machine.

Fig. V4 is a horizontal section, as seen on the -line 4 4 in Fig. 1. y

Fig; 5 is a cross section, substantiallyl on line 20 5-5 in Fig. 1f, with parts of the feed hoppers broken away for better 4-illustr-ation of parts enclosed Atherein and showing diagrammatically the circuit of certain solenoids.. Y

Fig. ,5a. vis `a detail of a switch mechanism as 2.5 used inthe circuits diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5.

(i isa vertical section, taken longitudinally of the machine and tsl-,rowing particularly the toggle mechanism; the hydraulic cylinder asso- A30 ciated ltherewith and its control valve; also showing the loader plunger and parts for controlling the operation.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, in a vertical plane, of the press chamber, the stripper Vand its Yac.- .35 tuating and control means.

8 is a horizontalV cross section of the cross head which mounts the press chamber- Fig.;9 is an end -v-iew of the same.

Fig. 901. is a sectional jdetail of the press chamber showing the air vents.

Fig. 10 is a sectional View in the plane of line lll- |10 -i-n Fig. 7. Y

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross'sectional View of one lof the control valves and its actuatingV solenoid.

Fig. 12 is an elevation of the control mechanism for effecting alternate operation of the Weighing valves. Y

Fig. 13 is a side view of the switch operating mechanisms operated by the control means Yhorizontal Y shown in Fig. 12.

terial by gravity flow from a sourceV of supply. n

Y Associated with the Vhoppers are control mechanisms whereby rweighed charges of material are delivered alternately from the hoppers into a passage leadinginto a loader cylinder. A loader plunger is reciprocally movable in this passage.

in proper timing with delivery of charges, to ad.- vance them into the loader cylinder and thereby to partially compress them. A ram is tted in'l the loader cylinder and is reciprocally actuated j in ktiming with reception of partly compressed charges, to advance theminto 'a press chamber located in registering alinement with V,the loader Vcylinder andV therein to'compress each charge to its maximum amount to form Va briquette.

Incident `to each retractive movement of the ram, the press chamber is moved away from the loader cylinder for ejection of the'formed briquette, and this'is effected by the movement oi the press chamber overa stripperV plunger. Coincident with retraction of the ram and lifting of the loader plunger,V another charge of vmate-V rial is delivered into the loader cylinder.

Movement of the ram is effected by actuation of a toggle mechanism that is arranged to apply power for compression as the briquette approaches its maximum amount of compression, Also, hydraulic cylinders are arranged for operation of the various plungers, the ram and other powerY devices under automatic control of Valve devices which in Yturn are under rcontrol ofV eleotrical means whereby all operations are accurately timed in accordance the parts. f

Referring more in detail to the drawings- The base structure of the machine comprises two parallel, horizontally disposed channel beams I and 2, joined rigidly in spaced relation by a plurality of tie rods'3 and by three transversely disposed yokes 4, 5, and 6; the opposite ends of which yokes rest upon Vand are bolted to the beams I. and'2 at the opposite ends of the frame and at a point mediallygthereof, respectively. Also, the three yokesY are rigidly and substantially tied together by shafts 1 and 8 that extend longitudinally along-opposite sides of the frame through the yokes and which have nuts 9 at their ends to secure them in place and withstand the thrust exerted by the toggle mechanism in the operations of compressing the briquettes. Also, at the right hand end of the machine, as seen in'Fig. Y1, a crossbeam I0 is mounted by the endsl of the shafts 'I and V8 andV to this beam, one end of the toggle mechanism Vis pivotally attached, as will vpresently beexplained. The yoke 6 of the frame structure mounts centrally thereon, as disclosed best in Fig. 5, the hoppers and dual feed mechanisms whereby the material for the briquettes is' weighed and delivered to the loader cylinder. 'Ihese mechanisms are mounted by a frame structure I2 boltwith movement of ed upon yoke 6. AThe frame formsia pair of spaced hoppers I3 and I4 which convergeY downwardly to an outlet-'15, common to both and which leads into a vertical passage I6 opening into the top of the horizontally disposed load- `er cylinderI'I, that'is'cent'rally xed in the yoke 6,.as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.' w The two hoppers, II3..andf I4, have. connection aoisss at their upper ends, respectively, With conduits I9 and 2B Yleading from a source of supply of material. Within the hoppers are horizontally disposed sliding gate valves 2l and 2I under automatic control, Yas presently described, for

Vpermitting or cutting oi delivery of material from their respective hoppers onto weighingv valves 22 and 22V located farther down Yin the hoppers; it being understood that whenr agate valve is opened, material will flow downwardly onto the closed weighing valve and that the'latter, under a certain weight, will move slightly downward by reason Vof its mounting, therebyV to effect the closing .of ak circuit to actuate mechanism iorclosing the gate valve. Finally, the weighing valve is dumped to deliver itsweighed charge. into the loader cylinder.V

A cross head 25 Ylocated between the yokes 5 and 6 is reciprocally supported on the shafts I and 8, and mounted thereby is a ram 25 that is coaxially of and is slidablytted in the loader cylinder Ill. Reciprocal action of the cross head eiects a reciprocal action ofthe ram. Actuation of the cross head is effected by operation of the previously mentioned toggle mechanism which comprises'aY pair of parallel links 2?--21 with outer ends connected, by a pivot pin 28, with the' cross beam lil and their inner ends connected by a pivot pin 2S with one end of a linkY vertically disposed hydraulic cylinder .32 rigidly Y mounted upon a frame structure 33 extendingV between and xed to the yokes 5 and centrally over the toggle mechanism. Within the vcylinder is a reciprocally contained piston 34 having a rod 35 extended from the upper end of the `cylinder through a suitably packed gland 36 and at its( Vouter end mounting a horizontal pivot pin 3'I to which the upper ends of a pair of links .38-33 are connected. These links depend along op-V posite sides of the cylinder 32 Vand at their lower ends connect pivotally with the opposite ends of the toggle pin 29. Thus, incident to reciprocal cylinder Il to a Vposition at which its inner endy is out of the path of delivery of material Ainto rthe loader cylinder through the passage I6.

By reference to Fig.'4, it will be observed that there is a cross'head 40 withopposite ends Vre-y ciprocally supported on the shaftsY I'and 8 between the yokes 4 and 6. YThis cross head mounts the press chamber `38 centrally thereof.` The press chamber is of cylindrical form open atfits ends andis ooaxially alined with the loader cylinder II and Vis of the same interior diameter. Furthermore, it is adapted to be kmoved by the cross head 46 against andV away from the end of cylinder II as indicated by the dotted line and full line showing thereof in Fig. 4. VWhen moved into end abutment with cylinder Il, the chamber 38 hasv its inner end seated in an Vannular socket,

45 action of the piston 3ftY in cylinder 32, the toggle Y -or1seat, 4I .provided therefor in the end of cylinder I1 to hold '.the two parts in exact alinement. The cross head v4I] is reciprocally actuated on its supportingshafts 1 and 8 ibya pair of parallel irods 42-42, with end connected therewith, as

seenin Fig. 4, and their other ends fixed in oppo- AV hydraulic cylinder rods 42-42. in the cylinder and this has a rod 46 extending :from the outer end of the cylinderthrough a .packed gland 41 and fixed at its outer end to the cross head 43, thus, reciprocal action of the piston in its cylinder causes that reciprocal movement of the cross -head 4I! whereby the press chamber 38 may -be moved inwardly against the end of cylinder I1 to receive a charge of material therefrom under action vof ram 26, and then moved outwardly away from the loader cylinder for ejection of the briquette formed therein by the ram. Movement of the piston 45 is under control of a valve'mechanism 48 which controls admittance of hydraulic mediumto and from the ends of the cylinder, and the valve is under control .of a solenoid S1 which is operated by the action of the cross head 40 and ram, as presently described.

In order to effect the stripping of the briquette from the press chamber incident to its movement -away from the loadercylinder, a stripper plunger 50 vis fixed in the yoke 4 andextends coaxially of the press chamber and is fitted therein so as to permit the chamber to Vmove reciprocally thereon. It is apparent -that since the plunger is stationary, the briquette may be actually pushed lfrom the .chamber by shifting of the cross head lMl tothe position of Fig. 4 at which the plunger extends clear through the press chamber.

It will be mentioned here that when the press chamber 38 is in registering position against the endof cylinder I1'tov receive a charge of material, the stripper plunger 50 is withdrawn suicient for the formation of the briquette entirely within the chamber, and when the ram 26 is fully extended for the compression of a charge, it extends well into the chamber 38. Thus the briquette is compressed between the ends of the ram 26 and plunger 50. The end'surfaces of these parts are given a special form where'by the ends ofthe briquettes are rounded slightly-outwardly with a central depressionwhich, in its formation, causes a greater compression to be applied to the briquettes along their axial lines;

.the cross sectional shape of the briquette B, as

formed in the chamber -being shown in Fig. 2.

An important feature of construction o'f the .press cylinder is shown in Fig. 9a, wherein is illustrated the provision of ports for the exhaustion of occluded air from the briquette material ras it is placed under high compression. It was found that, under the extremely high compression` at which these briquettes are made, it'was necessary that all air be permitted to escape therefrom or else it would expand, on retractionof the plunger, to an extent sufficient to crack Vthe briquette. "Therefore, thechamber walls are provided with minute ports 49, closely placed and leading into the chamber in tapered fpassages, so that material will not clog or stick in the port. The outer ends of the ports connect with an annular passage 49a encircling the cham-. ber, and this is connectedV at one side with a suc- :tion pipe '495, as seen in Fig. 8, whereby any ma- `terial ejected into'the passages will be withdrawn.

' Assuming, Athen .that a charge of material has .been delivered into the loadercylinder` I1. Afrom .hopper I3 or hopper I4, it is apparent thati-an inward movement ofthe ram 2li, resultant to. a

-straightening out of the toggle mechanism `will cause the charge to be pushed` ahead of the `.plungerinto thepress chamber 38, whichis then `locatedin registering alinement'withthe cylinder I1, andrtherein compressed into a briquette of definite size. VThen an outward shifting of the chamber 3,8 alongthe plunger 50 will cause ejec- -tionof'the formed briquette from the chamber.

Since there is a tendency of the briquette lto :stick to the end of the ejector plunger, we have .provided means forV knocking it loose.

means, as shown'bestin Fig. '7., comprises an angular lever 5I pivotally mounted on cross headV `40 and equipped with an arm 52 connectedfby a -link 153 with 'the' frame I2. 'I'he Varrangement provides that incident to outward shifting of `the This cross headt, the lever :5I will swing downward- Y .ly and strike the briquette at the time it is completely ejected, thus to release it from the stripper. A trough 54 may be located in position to receive the briquettes.

Referring now to the hopper mechanism and those devices for weighingV and delivering .the charge of material tothe loader cylinder` I1 Yfor .partial compression and delivery to -the press chamber, it is observed by reference to Fig. 5

`that `the slide gates 2lY and' 2| are located at short distances below the upper ends of the hopper passages, and somewhat below these valves are the downwardly swinging gate valves 22 and 22. rFhe'se latter valves are xed on horizontal .shafts revolubly supported in the hopper walls.

Also, fixed on each shaft 6 I, outside the hopper, is l ya short lever arm 82 to which coiled Vsprings 63 are attached in a manner to yieldingly hold the valves in closed position. Also xed on the shafts tl outside the hopper, are levers along which counter-weights 65 are adjustable. Fixed to theV frame structure I3 above each of these lever mechanisms, are solenoids 61 and 61 with armatures' and iiconnected, respectively, by links 69 and SQ with the lever arms 62; the arrangement being such that on energization of a solenoid 61 or 81, its armature will be movedupwardly and will thereby actuate the corresponding valve 22 to open position. On de-energization of the solenoid, the spring 63pulls the valve back to closed position. Y

The gate valves 2l and 2 I rare slidably mounted `and are moved inwardly and outwardly vunder control of solenoids 1I and 1I thatA are also supported on the frame I3;

eratively attached at their lower ends, respec-V tively, to Vtheir corresponding valves 2I and 2l.

valves in closed position, but on energizaton of a solenoid, its armature is drawn in,lthereby`actu ating its corresponding rock shaft toswing the A .lever arm 11 or .11 4outwardly to open .the valve 2l or 2l associated therewith.

Located inthe khoppers above 'the slide valves,

vareagitator wheels 88 fixed on shafts `Ill extended tothe outside of the hoppers and there equipped Fixed to the rock shafts arel Springs 18 and 'l8,-held underV compression, bear upwardly against lever arms 19 and 19' fixed on the rock shafts and thereby yieldingly hold-the with sprocket wheeisaz. A sprocket chain belt sa operates over these sprockets and Aalsoiabout a driving sprocket4 84T operated by the drive Yshaft .85' of anelectric motor 86, tol keep the agitator Wheels in operation and thereby to V insure a ready ow of material .whenV valves 2|.jare.opened.

Y'Assuming that thefswinging yalveof ahopper isv in Vclosedt'position and that its Vsliding gate rshould be opened, it is quiteapparenty that'ma- -terial will be fed onto the valve and will form a pile thereon. It is also apparent that,by a proper tensioning of the` spring 33 and by properly locating Vthe counterweight 86 on lever arm 65, apredetermined weight of material on the gate in addition tothe pull of the counterweight, may be made vto overcome pull of the spring 63 to an extent whereby thefswinging end of lever 65 will move slightly downward. In the present arrangement it is provided that Such downward movement of.I a lever 65 opens a switch in an electricfcircuit thereby toeffect de-energization of the corresponding'` solenoid 1| or 1|" to cause efects'the closing of the slide valve.

aneinstant closing ofthe gate valve, thereby to hold back Aany additional delivery of Vmaterial until the weighed charge had been vdumped andV the weighing valveA again brought back to closed position. "In this way definite and exact amounts 'of material are used for each briquette land briquettes'of definite, uniform size are made and all will have uniform compression.

' To provide this desired operation, eachl of the lsolenoidsf1| and1|- is connected electrically in a switch `controlled circuit, as illustrated in Fig. Y5. 89 and 90 designate connections wherebythe solenoid of each circuit is electrically connected through a switch with al source of elec- Y Atricity 9|. VEach switch, as shown in Fig. 5a,

comprises a xed contact 93 and a yielding switch lever 94. that is located in such position that it.

will be held againstrthe contact 93 by'a stud 95 Yfixed in'a nut SiiV on the lever 65 of the corresponding gate valve when the latter is closed. However, when suiiicient material has beenV de-` livered onto the valve that the weight thereof overcomes the spring 63, and permits the lever 65 to move downwardly, and the contact 94 to Ydisengag're contact 93, and the circuit to the sole` noid is thereby opened and the slide valve 2| corresponding thereto is actuated to closed potrally located, vertical guideway ||l| in the frame structure I2.

This plunger, in raised position, uncoversthe hopper outlets tothe passagerl, and when' actuated'downwardly will partially compress a charge of materialrthat may have been dumped incident to its upward travel, and to advance the charge into Athe loader cylinder |1. When the loader plunger is in its lowered position, it is contained in passage I6 and its lower surface, which conforms in curvature,` as

Vshown in Fig. 5, to the curvature of the cylinder |1,` registers evenly'with the wall of the cylinder and closes the passage I6. Then when the ram 26 advances, the loaded charge is pushed thereby 1l into the press chamber 38.

`gland. |08.

' .Mounted upon the frame |2'is a vertically Vdisposed, hydraulic cylinder |05 containing a piston |06 havingits rod |01 extending from the lower end of the cylinder through a suitably packed lower end to a crossV head |.9 Yand this, in turn, is connected byV a bolt to theV upper endof the loader plunger. Reciprocal action of threjpiston Thepiston rodV is` connected atY its causes a corresponding actuation of the loader Y plunger; movement of the piston being under control of a hydraulic valve mechanism I I I -p'resl ently described, which controls the admittance of hydraulic pressure medium to the cylinder.v .The valve is under automatic'control of a solenoid S2 as presently described.

VSince it is desired that the weighed charges of v material shall'be delivered alternately from the hoppers |3 and I4 into the loader cylinder, the

,valves 22 and 22 must beactuated alternately in accordance with the operation of the loader plunger H10. The 'two valves 22 and 22, are under control of their respective solenoids 61 and 61 and these are under'c'ontrol of switch mechanisms whereby rstone and `thenthe other is energized.

.its respective solenoid, and is arranged to be operated, respectively, by lever arms 'l I1 and ||1 pivotally mounted, as at I8 jin Fig.,l3, in theY switch housings; one end of each lever being pro- :vided with laterallyV extending yoke arms IIS engaging a lug of the switch for. moving it between on andfo'fl positions and the other end of the levers having rollers |22 mounted thereon to be engaged, respectively, by camsY |23 and |23', fixed on theouter end of a shaft |24 revolubly mounted in bearings |25 and |25 on the bracket. The cams |23 and |23', each has two diametrically opposite lobes |23a and one cam is advanced ninety degrees relative to the (other. Thus, by rotating the shaft'l 24 the switch levers will be alternately actuated to'open and close their respective switches.

At one'side of the bracket |5 is a housing |30 into which one end ofthe shaft |24 extends and a pinion Ygear wheel |3| is xed on this vend of the shaft. Also, mounted in a wall of the housing are studs |32-and |32V on which 'gear wheels |33 and |33 are rotatably mounted; these latter gearsV being ofV equal size and mesh with gear wheel |3| at opposite sides thereof. Coaxial ofV each gear wheel |33 and |33 and fixed relative thereto for rotation of thegear's, are ratchet vwheels |34 and |34. Pivotally mounted onthe outer end of stud |32` isa lever arm |735 carrying a spring pressed pawl |36 which engages ratchet |33. Likewise, pivotally mounted on the stud 32 outside of ratchet |34 is a lever |31 which,

at one end, mounts a spring pressedv pawl |38` the stud |32 and extending tothe outside of housing |30. Fixed on the stud is a lever the end of which is disposed in position at 'which it f push rod |50.slidably mounted ini guide bearings I| and |52, respectively, in the frame 33' and housing |38 and onr the lower end of the rod is a roller |154. arranged to be engaged by a cam |55 on the cross head 25` as the latter moves the ram 26Lto ,its inner limit of travel, thereby to move theV push rod upwardly against the tension of a spring |56.that surrounds the rod between a collar |51 iiXed thereon and the guide bearing |5I. The upper end of the push rod is arranged, on upwardmovement, to engage an end oflever |31 to push it upwardly.

Thus, it will be understood, by reference to Fig. 12; that when the cross head V|85I moves upward with the loader plunger |08 to its upper limit of travel, the stud |46 will engage the lever arm |45. to swing the arm |31'upwardly from the dotted line positionto full line position, thereby tocausefthe pawl |38' and ratchet |31 to advance the gear wheel |33 the predetermined interval of thirty degrees, and this causes, by reason of selected ratios of gears |33 and |3|, rotation of shaft |24 an interval of forty-five degrees. Also, when the lever |45 is actuated upwardly, the lever arm |35? is pulled downwardly by the connecting link |379, then when the cross head 25 moves inwardly to advance the ram to its limit inl making a briquette, Ythecarn plate |55 engages the roller at the lower end of push rod |50 and actuates the rod upwardly against lever |31, thereby to cause lever arm |35 to move-upwardly and thereby cause pawl |36 to rotatably advance ratchet |34 and gear |33 an interval whereby shaft |24 is. again rotatably advanced forty-ve degrees. Thus for each upward and each down- Wad action of the loader plunger, the shaft |24 is advanced an interval of forty-live degrees, and since the cams |23 and |23' are so arrangedthat the'lobes of one are advanced ninety degrees relative to the other, it is clear that for successive reciprocal actions of the loader plunger |00 the positions of switches ||6 and H6 will be reversed and this will, in proper timing, cause' dumping of charges alternately from the hoppers |3` and I4.

The control valves 39, 48' and for the hy-V draulic cylinders 32, 44- and |05 are substantially alike in construction and mode of Operation and likewisev the solenoids S1, S2 and S3', whereby they are actuated, are alike in construction. Therefore,- only one unit has been illustrated in detail, as in Fig'. 11, with the understanding that the description of this will apply equally to the others.

y As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the three valve units are arranged in horizontal alinement upon a supporting base |60 upon yoke 4. Supply and exhaust pipes |65 and |66 for a hydraulic pressure medium connect with manifolds |55 and |66 which are connected, as at |61 and |68, respectively, with the inlet and` outlet sides of the several valves. The diagrammatic illustration of Fig. 15v shows the piping connections between the three valves and their respective cylinders, and also'shows the circuit connections between the various solenoids, which control the operations ofthe valves, and their circuit control switches.

Each valve, as shown in Fig. 1l, comprises a valve housing |10 with inlet and outlet ports |12 and |13 communicating respectively with the supply and exhaust manifolds |65' and |66.

Each housing'alsoj has ports |-14and |15 wherefby vconnection isY made respectively. with pipes leading to opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder controlled by the valve, and in each housing is a reciprocally movable valveV member |16- whereby the pressure medium from the supplyV is directed to one end of thecylinder and exhausted from its other end in accordance with movement of the valve |16 tov one or the other of its limits` under its.4 solenoid control.

Each valve has its vstem |10 extended therefrornandV connected pivotally, as 'at |19, with a lever |80. The; lever, in turn, is pivotally mount- Vedrat one-endas at |8I, and` has a spring |82 attached to its opposite end in a manner whereby the valve by reason of itsconnection with the lever isLyieldingly held connected withV the lever ieinpa manner whereby, on energization of the solenoid, thelever will be actuated against the pull of springv |82 to reverse the valve |16.

Byreferenceto Fig; 15, itis to be observedthat the ports |14 and |15 of valve 48 are connectedV to the opposite ends or" cylinder 44 by pipes |85 and |85.. Likewise, valve is connectedto cyl'- inder |05 by pipes |81 and |88 and valve 39 is connected to cylinder '32 by pipes |80 andY |90.

In. E'ig.l 15 isdiagrammatically illustrated the location of' the various control switchesfor the solenoids. 280 and 20|, respectively, designate the mainsY of a supply circuit. Solenoid S1 has a connectionf202 atene, sidewitha wire 203 which connects withmain 200. It has a connection204 at its Vother side to one side of a three-wayfswitch 265C which is located in position to be actuated to circuit closingA position byan arm 206 xed to cross head when theilatter moves to its outer circuit in discharging a briquette.

Solenoid S2 has a connection 2||lA at one side with circuit main 200 and it has a connection 2| from its other side to a three-wayswitch 2|2 thatl is located in position togbeV actuated by an armV 2|,3; on crosshead 40 when the cross'head movestoa position whereby the press chamber 38; isgdisposed against, theloader cylinder for receiving a charge.

SolenoidS3 has one lside connected by a circuit wireV 2|5 with the wire 203 leading to circuitY main 200, and has its other side connected by a wire 2|6 with a three-way switch 2|1 with contacts thereof connected by wiresl 2| 8 and 219 with polesV of three-way switch 205. The `switch V2 l1 is located in position for actuation by an arm 2|8 and 2|9 and with ajconnection 224 to a wire 225 leading to circuit main 20|. The switch 220 is located in positionto be actuated to close'its circuit by an arm 220 on cross head 25 at a time when the ram has reached its inward travel for compressing abriquette. Also there is'thethreeway `switchr230 with a connectionf23| to wire 225 which leads to main'20I and ywith connections 232 and 233A connecting it with contacts of switch 2|2, so thatthese switches work to-V gether. The switch 230 is located in position for actuationV by an arm 235 on cross head 25 when the latter has moved inwardly to an extent whereby the ram is just entering the press cyl-'- inder. i .Y

` With the switches and circuits soarranged, operation Yof the machine under automatic control "is as follows: Y

Assuming that the valve 48 is in Vadjustment Vwhereby hydraulic mediumis being admitted to the inner'end of cylinder V1|4and piston'45 isY moving outwardly t o move the cross head |10 and pressV chamber away fromv the loader cylinder. `Asthe' cross head Y40 reachesV its outer Ylimit of travel, the arm 206 closes Yswitch 205fand thereby Vcloses a circuit through solenoid S1 Vand causes reversal of valve 48 to cause piston 45 tov move inwardly in cylinder 44 and crossY head 40 to move the press cylinder back againstv the loader cylinder toreceivea charge. As the cross head moves inwardlyfto this position, the arm 2|3 closes switch 2|2 and thereby energizes solenoid S2 to' causeY reversal of valve I whereby the loader plunger |00 is caused to move down- Wardly to advance a charge of material from thev hopper into the loader cylinder. As the plunger |00 moves downwardly, Vthe arm 220 Y thereon closes switch 2|`| and thereby energizes solenoid S3 to cause reversal of. valve 39 and an upward travel of piston 34 in cylinder 32 to operate the ram 26 to advance the charge of material from Vthe loader cylinder into the press chamber. As the ram moves inwardly, the arm 235 on cross head 25 actuates switch 230 to open the circuit; to solenoid S2 thereby to permit reversal of valveV I I| and a retraction of the loader plunger |00. AsV the ram reaches its limit of inward travel, Vthe arm 228 on the crossv head 25 actuates switch 22| and opens the circuit to solenoid S1 and permits reversal of valve 48 and vcauses an outward return of the cross head 40 tostarting position, and at the same time eiects reversal of valve 39 to retract the ram to starting position. vThe cycle of operationl is repeated when the arm 206 on cross head 40 again actuates switch 205. Y

a feature of construction, the cross head V40 is'water jacketed, as 'at 248 in Fig. 9, about the press cylinder 38 to avoid overheating, and flexible'circulation pipes 250 and 25| connect with this jacket, as seen in Fig. 8. Also, in order that the material delivered into the hoppers may be kept in the Vheated'condition at which it is received, the hoppers are jacketedfor'reception of Vsuperheated steam; the-jacket being shown Vat 255' in Fig. 5, and suitable connectionis made therewith.

- In the manufacture` of briquettes of the character for which the present machine is intended from sawdust or other' suitable material, it is desirable to mix with the material a certain amountof a chemical salt whereby the flame produced inthe burning ofthe briquettes will have varied colors. Such a chemical saltV may be contained in hoppers; as designated at 260 in Fig. 5, and fed therefrom in predetermined amounts into the supply hopper tubes I9 and 20 in accordance with the rate of operation of the'machine. YControl of the delivery of the chemical salt preferably would be through the mediacy of valves in the hoppers 260 operated by the solenoid mechanism which actuates theV gate valves. These valves, as designated at 26|, would be of the rotary type and formed with peripheral pockets 263. The valve shafts 264 would be equipped with ratchet wheels and levers 265 pivoted on the shafts and mounting pawls 266 to engage the ratchets which are connected by links 261 with arms'268 extending from and fixed to the shafts VI5 and V'I5'.

This provides that with each :operation of the solenoid,V the shafts I5 and 'I5' are actuated in a manner to rotatably advance the valves an interval for delivery of salt from one Yof the pockets; thissalt passing intoV the supply tubes leading to the hoppers. i' In this way' the proper or Aa desired'amount of salt maybe;

spaced from an endY vof the loader cylinder, a e

press cylinder slidable alongthe stripper plunger from a position in end to lendV registration withY the loader cylinder to a position' spaced thereyfrom and at which latter position the stripper"Y extends therethrough, a`ram reciprocally operable through a definite interval through the Y n loader cylinder and extendable Vinto the press cylinder for the advancement and compres'sion'of,v charges in the latterfcylinder between the ends of the ram and stripper, means for shifting the press cylinder along the stripper plunger between machine, a frame, aV

its limits of travel, and a hammer operatively connected for actuation incident to movement of the presscylinder outwardly along the stripper plunger, to cause the hammer end to strike'the briquette and disengage it from the stripper when,`

ejected thereby from the press cylinder. Y

2. In a briquette forming machine, in combina.-Y tion, a press cylinder, a hopper, a loader cylinder having a passage opening into a side` thereof andr connecting the cylinder with the hopper, Ymeans for delivering charges of material `from the hopper into the passage, a loaderA plunger reciprocally movable along the passage toA advance the charges into the loader cylinder; Vsaid plunger, when in extended positiombeing adapted to register within the opening of the passage into the loadery cylinder and having a surface conforming in curvature with that of the cylinder and flush therewith, Vand a ram reciprocally operable in the loader cylinder for the advancement of charges therefrom into the press cylinder.

3. In a briquette forming machine, a press cylinder,'a loader cylinder, a hopper having a delivery passage to the loader cylinder, a normally closed valve in the'said passage for controlling delivery of charges of material into said loader cylinder, a ram operable in said passage to deliver charges under a preliminary compression into the loader cylinder, another ramcoperable to advance charges from the loader cylinder into' the press cylinder and means operating in timing with the movements of the first-named ram for actuating said Valve to open position when `the ram is extended. Y e Y p 4. In a briquette forming machine, a press cylinder, a loader mechanism including a loader cylinder, means for advancing charges of material thereinto, and a ram'operable to deliver'V said charges from the loader cylinder into the press cylinder and to compress them into briquettes therein, a stripper fitted to the press cylinder, means for moving the press cylinder therealong for ejection of the briquette, devices actuatedby the said last mentioned means when the press cylinder reaches the ejecting position to energize the loader mechanism, and other devices actuated timing with the ram when it has compressed and for ejection of a briquette, a ram reciprocally operable through the loader cylinder and into the press cylinder'for the advancement of a charge from the former into the latter and to compress 'it in the latter into a briquette, means operating in timing with movements of` the press cylinder for controlling movement of the loader plunger, and means actuated by the loader plunger for controlling actuation of the rain. Y

6. A machine, as in claim 5, wherein means is actuated by the ram when it reaches its extended position to effect movement of the press cylinder along the stripper for ejection of the briquette.

7. In a briquette forming machine, a loader cylinder, a loader plunger reciprocally operable for loading of charges of material into the loader cylinder, a press cylinder arranged to receive material from the loader cylinder, a ram, means reciprocally actuating the ram between retracted and extended positions for advancement of charges from the loader into the press cylinder to form briquettes, a stripper plunger, means for shifting the press cylinder along the stripper plunger away from the loader cylinder for ejection of a briquette, reciprocallyY moving means for actuating the loader plunger, means operable by the press cylinder moving means for'reversing the direction of movement of the press cylinder upon discharge of a briquette therefrom to return it to loading position, and means operated thereby on return of the press cylinder to loading position to effect a loading action of the loader plunger,.

means actuated by theY loader plunger,V moving means for timing the loading action of the ram, and means actuated by the ram moving means for timing the retraction of the loader plunger and for timing the retractive movementsof the ram and of the press cylinder.

OLIVER P. MQ GOSS. WORTH GOSS. 

